Tower Estate Hunter Valley Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley, NSW)
13.5%, Screwcap, $32CD
Source: Sample
www.towerestate.com.au
Produced when Sam Connew was still at the winemaking helm and looks every bit the ‘better’ year Hunter red. 16 months in French oak and sourced from unspecified ‘old vines’ (edit – Ben Ean vineyard. Thanks Chris).
Lovely bright marooon red purple colour like so many good Hunter 2011 reds. Nice colour that. The sweet vanilla oak protrudes through a fraction on the nose but it can’t hide that boysenberry Hunter fruit deliciousness. The sweet oak is noticeable through the palate too, though you get the sense it will just become a sweetener with bottle age. Tannins are sandy and dry to finish.
Good Hunter Shiraz in the purple, mid weight, pretty and extremely youthful mould, this should evolve very nicely. The oak is a bit blunt at present though not a deterrent. Good.
Drink: 2013-2025
Score; 17.7/20 92/100+
Would I buy it? Not now, but in 5 years I would.
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2 Comments
A little update on the vineyard source: Ben Ean vineyard
Perfect. Thanks Chris.